Borussia Dortmund
Bayern want to show an instant reaction to Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final 2-1 home loss to Inter Milan, in order to go into next week's return leg with a shot of confidence, the coach said.
The timing of the Bundesliga Klassiker at league leaders Bayern Munich could not have been worse for struggling Borussia Dortmund, with their entire season seemingly resting on Saturday's result.
Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac was delighted with his team's 2-1 comeback victory at Lille in the Champions League on Wednesday but predicted they would need to lift their game further to see off Barcelona in the quarter-finals.
Borussia Dortmund slumped to a 2-0 loss at Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday for their third straight Bundesliga defeat that deepened the crisis at the Ruhr Valley club.
Bayer Leverkusen's 3-2 victory at Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga restart on Friday showed the development and discipline of the German champions, coach Xabi Alonso said.
Borussia Dortmund are desperate for a winning start to the new year when they host champions Bayer Leverkusen on Friday in the Bundesliga restart following the three-week winter break.
Barcelona's team spirit helped them weather the storm against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday, said Ferran Torres, after the striker came off the bench to net a late double that gave the Spaniards a 3-2 win in Germany.
Borussia Dortmund eased past hosts Dinamo Zagreb 3-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday to stay firmly on course for a top-eight finish and automatic qualification to the knockout stage.
Dortmund will be hoping to bounce back has from their frustrating 5-2 defeat by Real Madrid in the Champions League after leading 2-0, and a first league win on the road would boost their confidence, the manager added.
Sahin said Dortmund will work towards improving their away form, but added that it would have to wait until after their next game against St Pauli at home on Friday.
Brugge were the better side for much of the contest but Jamie Gittens’s brace and a penalty from Serhou Guirassy sealed victory for the visitors and left their hosts frustrated.
The Germany international was without a club after his contract with Dortmund ended in July. Details of the transfer were not revealed but Italian media reported the 35-year-old has signed a season-long deal for 2.5 million euros ($2.8 million).
Gross has signed a two-year contract with the Bundesliga club and leaves Brighton after seven season with the Premier League side, where he made 261 appearances in all competitions, scoring 32 goals.
Borussia Dortmund forward Jadon Sancho said it feels surreal to be playing in the Champions League final against Real Madrid at Wembley on Saturday after struggling for game time at Manchester United.
Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus will leave the club after 12 years at the end of the season but a Champions League final at Wembley would see his career at the Ruhr valley club come full circle, said coach Edin Terzic said on Saturday.
Borussia Dortmund's Niclas Fuellkrug fired in a first-half goal to seal a 1-0 victory over visitors Paris St Germain in a compelling Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday.
Atletico Madrid struck twice in a dominant first half but had to survive a late fightback from Borussia Dortmund before earning a 2-1 win in their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday.
Bayern Munich have been handed a timely boost with the return of forwards Harry Kane and Kingsley Coman for their Bundesliga clash against rivals Borussia Dortmund, but goalkeeper Manuel Neuer remains sidelined with injury, manager Thomas Tuchel said.
The 23-year-old scored early on and Marco Reus netted in the dying minutes against Eindhoven to secure a 3-1 aggregate victory and a place in the quarters for the first time in three years.
Donyell Malen scored twice to help Borussia Dortmund to a 3-0 victory over visitors Freiburg in the Bundesliga on Friday and tighten their grip on fourth spot.
